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12.22.2008

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Early Friday afternoon (during some of our coveted mommy/daughter time when Caleb is sleeping) Kylie and I were sitting across the table having a snack together. I had heated up some of my coffee from earlier in the morning and she asked to have a sip. I replied that coffee was for grown-ups and she said, "When I get big I can have some toffee?" And I told her that I'd be happy to go out for coffee together and talk when she got big.

That got me to thinking, so I asked her, "Kylie, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
She thought for a minute before replying, "When I gow up I want to be a BIG Ty-ie!"
So I decided to try it from a different angle and asked her if she wanted to be a teacher or a doctor or something like that and she comes out with, "I want to det on a airpane and go to my Tinah to find my baby dust like you Mommy."
Be still my heart...

And while we still have a way to go before I can have a full conversation with Caleb, his receptive language continues to explode! I am amazed at how much he understands now. You can give him simple instructions and he follows them through. Examples include, "Please take your plate to the sink," "No more (treat food) until you take another bite of (protein or veggie)," "Caleb, please bring me (shoes, jacket, toy, etc...)," and then the one that really gets him moving, "Bath time!" He has a few words that he signs. Those include help, please, eat, drink, and thank you. And then there are the words that he speaks clearly. At this point they are cheese (smiling for the camera, he doesn't associate it with a food just yet), thank you (sounds like "tank to"), Myyy (Maya), app-puhle (apple), baahhl (ball), doose (juice), bann (banana) and one of the dreaded two year old words ~ MIHNE!

Just this weekend though, he added two words to his vocabulary. Friday morning Ian and I were chatting (before either of the babes were awake) over a cup of coffee before he headed to work. From down the hall we hear, "Mom-me!" and Ian says, "Hold on Kylie, Daddy will get you." (The voice sounded just like her, and she always calls for us to come when she wakes up while all you get from Caleb is the sound of his little feet padding down the hardwood floor in his non-skid footie pajamas). As Ian was getting up we hear again, "MOM-ME!" and Ian took the four steps to Kylie's door, but she's still sound asleep and we realize that it was Caleb. Until that moment it had just been MaMa, but since then I've had the sweet word "Mommy" ringing in my ears from both of my kiddos!

And then Friday night when Ian got home from work he pulled out, "Dad-dee!" and I think Ian's heart could have burst on the spot...

Friday night at the lights ~ sure Caleb isn't exactly smiling, but it works...

11 comments:

Gracie's Journey said...

Wow! I'm shivering. This is so sweet. Only a mamma of an adopted child can understand those feelings. Thanks for stopping by our blog. Merry Christmas to your growing family! Joyce & Allen

Melissa said...

I love the family picture! Trust me, good pics are had to come by. I don't have one great picture of all 5 of us. At least not one that was taken on the first try!!

Anonymous said...

Kylie's little heart is already so big - she wants to get a child just like Mommy and Daddy did. You two are such wonderful role models for your children. Full of love and compassion for others.

Oh, my precious grandchildren. I remember when my "precious" girls first said Daddy or Mommy - it does about make your heart swell out of your chest.

Love, LaoLao

Pam said...

Mommy and Daddy. The. sweetest. words.

Pam

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to have "coffee" with LeighAnna as she gets older. I'm already enjoying our grown up time with baby is napping. Although I still can't give her enough as she adjusts to being a big sister. I asked her about future husband/family and she told me she wanted 7 children! She's more ambitious than me! ;-) I know the warm fuzzy of hearing Mommy called down the hall. Congratulations!

Amy Woods said...

Oh my word, those stories made me tear up! I love the thought of meeting for coffee with my kids. How precious! I hope you have a wonderful Merry Christmas with your two children. I pray someday we could really meet and have our kids play together!

Nancy said...

Wow! That is just awesome! I bet both of your hearts just melted when Caleb said that. Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family!

Our Journey said...

It amazes me how thoughtful this daughter of yours is already! Gotta love the words mommy & daddy - no better - especially the 1st time!!

Melissa said...

OK, I am sitting here crying at my desk at work after reading this! What a tribute to you and Ian as parents with what Kylie shared with you, and what an amazing transition for Caleb! He will say those words Mommy and Daddy for tde rest of his life! Merry Christmas to you!

Ally said...

What a sweet time together for you and your little one! How that warms the heart. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas!!

Anonymous said...

Aaawwwwh!That is precious!
Aunt Cici